Rep. Jefferson Van Drew

Veterans Census-Enabled National Treatment Equitable Resource Supplement for Mental Health Act of 2021 or the Vet CENTERS for Mental Health Act of 2021 This bill requires the Department of Veterans Affairs (VA) to ensure the number of Vet Centers in certain states is increased by at least one additional center if the VA determines the state meets specified requirements. The VA must also establish a community-based outpatient clinic in each state that does not share a land border with another state, is located at least 2,000 miles from the contiguous United States, and contains no such clinic.

Protecting Americans' Genomic Information Act of 2021 This bill requires the Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) to address national security concerns when conducting or supporting biomedical research that involves human genomic sequencing and sensitive, identifiable information. Specifically, HHS must implement a risk framework to assess whether such research conducted by the National Institutes of Health or other HHS agencies and offices poses risks to national security and identify approaches to mitigate those risks, including through security controls and training for those that manage or have access to such research. After the framework is developed, HHS must implement data access controls, ensure that data access committees include members with national security expertise, and update relevant data access and sharing policies. The bill also requires HHS to brief Congress about these activities.

This resolution supports the observance of the second Monday in October as Columbus Day and honors the contributions of the Italian-American community thanks to the influence of Christopher Columbus.

Improving Mental Health and Wellness in Schools Act This bill requires local educational agencies (LEAs) participating in the school lunch or breakfast programs to include in their local school wellness policies (1) goals for mental health promotion and education, and (2) nutrition guidelines for reducing childhood eating disorders. Such LEAs must also include registered dietitians and school-based mental health services providers in the development, implementation, and periodic review of such policies. The bill also requires the Department of Agriculture to provide information and technical assistance to school health professionals (including school-based mental health services providers) for use in establishing healthy school environments. Such technical assistance must promote mental health, encourage mental health assessments, and establish resilient school environments.

Blocking Joseph Robinette Biden's Overreaching Vaccine Mandates Act This bill restricts implementation and enforcement of COVID-19 vaccine mandates, including in the Medicare and Medicaid programs. Specifically, the Department of Health and Human Services may not require, as a condition of participation in the programs, that providers mandate COVID-19 vaccination for their employees, or otherwise penalize participating providers that do not mandate such vaccination. The bill also prohibits the use of federal funds to implement or enforce a COVID-19 vaccine mandate.

Banking Privacy Act of 2021 This bill prohibits the Department of the Treasury from implementing any new information reporting requirements for individuals or businesses regarding inflows or outflows of deposits or withdrawals regarding banking and other financial accounts.

This bill prohibits certain departments and agencies from promulgating any rule to require a a person to provide proof of a COVID-19 vaccination in order to engage in interstate commerce. The prohibition applies to The Department of Transportation, Amtrak, The Surface Transportation Board, The Transportation Security Administration, The National Transportation Safety Board, The Federal Maritime Commission, and The Department of Commerce. The bill also limits the authority of the Department of Health and Human Services to mandate vaccination against COVID-19 as a prerequisite for engaging in interstate commerce or travel.

Israel Relations Normalization Act of 2021 This bill requires the Department of State to take certain actions promoting the normalization of relations between Israel, Arab states, and other relevant countries and regions. Specifically, the State Department must develop a strategy on expanding and strengthening the Abraham Accords (the term used to refer collectively to agreements between Israel and the United Arab Emirates and between Israel and Bahrain marking the public normalization of relations between the two Arab countries and Israel). The strategy must include a description of how the U.S. government will encourage further normalization of relations with Israel. In addition, the State Department must report on options for U.S. international efforts to promote the strengthening of ties between Israel, Arab states, and other relevant countries and regions. The State Department must also report on the status of the normalization of relations with Israel, including information on (1) laws that punish individuals for people-to-people relations with Israelis (i.e., anti-normalization laws), and (2) evidence of steps taken by Arab governments toward permitting or encouraging normalized relations between their citizens or residents and Israeli citizens.

Re-using Equipment for Environmental Fortification Act or the REEF Act This bill requires the Department of the Navy to notify Congress of the pending retirement of vessels that are viable candidates for artificial reefing (intentionally sinking a vessel to promote marine life). Specifically, the Navy must provide such notice not later than 90 days before the viable candidate's retirement from the Naval Vessel Register.

September 11 Day of Remembrance Act This bill designates September 11 Day of Remembrance as a legal public holiday.